Lens grinding apparatus



- T17, 5954 H. M; FRTER ET AL 2,585,393

LENS GRINDING APPARATUS h F116@ June 11, 1951 2 sheets-sheet g zeitig. if? aiya.-

sus eniNniNG Aprile -frns Harold M. ori'er and Patrick lli. Reardon,y

town, Md., a corpor Application .lune 11,

"I Claims.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for the manufacture of lenses andmore particularly to the commercial scale manufacture of lenses for microscopes and like instruments.

In the manufacture of plano-convexlcnses it is known to mount short cylindrical lens blanks in curved blocks or holders and to move those blocks or holders with respect to a grinding surface whereby to grind the lens blanks to the contour of the mount so as to form thereon the convex surracc.

-eretoiore, enormous difficulty has been encountered in distributing the wear of the grinding compounds over the surface o the lens holder in such a way that the various lens blanks are ground to an equal extent and the curvature of the lens holder is maintained against distortion.

An example of prior art construction along Athese lines is to be round in Adams Patent No. '13706,723, in which a plurality or lens blanks in a spherical mount are simultaneously ground by action of a pair of sockets containing a a inding compound and moving in such a way as to bring about a grinding action. Experience has shown that lthis arrangement, while capable o producing good results, has the disadvantage that adjustments are extremely critical and it is difficult to maintain the spherical nature of the lens mount or blocker over long periods of use. Prior art, as exemplified by the Adams patent, is capable of producingat a single run only as many lenses as can be mounted in a single sphere, further production requirements making necessary the use of another unit or units.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the difficulties oi the prior art and to provide a method and apparatus for the simultaneous grinding oi a large number of blanks under conditions resulting in high quality lenses of l marked uniformity.

It is proposed according to the present invention to provide a plurality ol spherical blockers each containing a large number ol lens blanks and to grind all of the lenses in all oi the blockers at one time by causing the spherical blockers to move in a path resultingr in a constant change' of the axis of rotation oi the blockers which results in an even distribution of abrasive eiiect over the various lens mounts.

Subsidiary advantages of the present invention reside in the ease with which the equipment can be built and operated, low cost ci maintenance and wide adaptability to the grinding of lenses of diie 'ing focal length.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of of Maryland 1951, Serial No. 230,883

ation -2 the followingr detailed description of several embodiments thereof in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of lens grinding 5 apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the driving plate and grinding plate of the apparatus or" Figure l showing the mutual eecentricity ofthcse parts;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the grinding plate of Figures 1 and 2 showing the position of the driving plate in chain lines;

Figure e is a View in plan of a modified type of grinding plate susceptible of use in the assembly of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a view in section of the grinding plate of Figure 4 taken along the line 5-5 or Figure 4; and

Figures G, 'I and 8 are views of the blockers 2O with lenses therein in the various stages o polishing, Figure 6 showing in elevation the unground lenses in a spherical blocker, Figure '7 showing in section the unground lenses in the blocker of Figure 6 and Figure 8 showing in elevation the iinally ground and polished lenses as they appear just before removal from the spherical blocker.

l now more specific reference is made to Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be observed that the mounting and propulsion of the apparatus oi the pres- 4 n cnt invention is accomplished by adaptation of an o ordinary drill press. On the Work table i0 of the drill press there is mounted a cast iron `frihding plato or dise il, the structure and function of which can best be appreciated by reference to Figures 2 and 3. The grinding disc il is of a "D height greater than that of any blocker ball to be accommodated therein and is provided with an annular concentric groove of a width considerably in excess of the diameter of the blockers to be accommodated therein even when those blockers llo i0 are in the starting position and are filled with lens blanks having the appearance shown in Figure (l. A spindle l2 extends downwardly from the bottom 0l' the grinding plate l l through`tlifwork table i?. of the drill press and into a gear box i3 containing reduction gearing.

f"""' She input end of the gear box i3 is connected by a flexible coupling it to a motor l5 mounted on a bracket held at the top of the drill press post IG. 'The relation between the driving spoed 60 of the motor i5 and thc gear box is such that the output end of the gear box which is connected to the spindle i2 rotates at about l R. l). M. when the motor i5 is energized Mounted to the driving spindle of the drill press having a lower face i8 of is a driving plate il are eccentric by 1/2 sponge or soft rubber. The lower face i8 rests upon the spherical blockers as they lie in the annular groove o the grinding plate i l and propels the blockers causing them to move around the groove in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described. rlhe movement of the plate il is accomplished through a spindle i9 which is connected t0 the drill press spindle or is otherwise connected to be driven from the motor i5. The driving relation between the spindle i9 and the motor i5 is such that the spindle i9 moves at about l0 R. l. M. whereas the spindle i2 moves at but l R. l. M.

The functions accomplished by the grinding' disc li in coaction with the plate il can best be understood in reference to a specic construction intended for the grinding o plano-convex lenses having an approximate focal length of 1%@ inch. In this case the blocker balls are of a diameter of 11H0 inch are made of annealed bearing steel or other suitable material. The balls are machined or cast to provide each with twelve symmetrically disposed radial cavities. Each cavity accommodates a single cylindrical lens blank of 75h; inch diameter and l/,Ci inch in length. The lens blanks are cemented in the cavities with a cellulosic coment of the type that is readily soluble in a volatile solvent. An example of such a cement is a cellulose acetate derivative in actone. When cemented in position the blanks at their edges project upvv'ardlg; from the bail surface about 'l/ia inch.

The cast iron grinding disc which has been used with 11i/:6 inch diameter blocker balls is o a diameter or 9 inches and the concentric groove is ofj''g inches diameter. The groove is 7/5 inch deep and lVu; inches wide at the widest portion thereof. The sponge rubber pad it is glued to the lower surface of the cast iron disc or plate ll. The diameter of the pad i3 and plate il is about 9 inches and the plate il weighs about twentyiive pounds. In the assembly oi' Figure l, the weight o the plate il is used to press on the blockers and the spindle return spring of thc drill press is removed. The plate ll and its pad i6 inch to the center of the grindingr disc l i. Some variation in ccccntricity is possible but it should not exceed l inch.

.ln operation the groove in the grinding disc is failed. with 2G blockers of the appearance of Figure G and the groove is mois-tened with a water iubri ated silicon carbide or aluminum oxide grinding' compound oi about 35 microns. After about 21/2 hours of grinding the blockers are removed and ground. or 3 additional hours under like circumstances in the presence of a grinding compound. of 13 microns. During this entire operation the grinding disc i i is turneda-t l R. P. M. and the plate il and its pad i3 at 4G 12...?. M. Upon completion of the foregoing 5*/2-hour schedule, the lens blanks are ground to the contours oi' the blockers and are ready ior polishing.

luring the grinding operation the spherical contour., or the blockers are perfectly maintained due to the eccentricity of the grinding disc li and the plate il' and its pad iS. This eccentr ity causes the blocker balls to rotate about con iuou` y changing' axes, the balls describinga path winch may be best understood by reierence to t will be observed that the b. is in travelling; around the groove in the grindilu: disc not only move around the groove but twice in each revolution move from side to side across the groove. It will be recalled that the groove at its widest point is 11/16 inches wide,

lso

whereas the blockers with the lens blanks in them have an initial overall diameter of about 1%; inch, allowing a lateral play of ift inch. Of course, as the lens blanks are ground away the room for 5 lateral play increases to about 1./4 inch at the end ofthem. grinding operation. rlhe relative speed differ/ence between the grinding disc and the plate does not appear to aileet the distribution of the Wear over the blocker balls but rather tends to equalize the wear on the grinding disc.

During the coarse grinding operation which the-first 21/2 hours of 'compound of 35 microns, it is possible to bring about even distribution o wear on the blockers and hence even grinding: not only by the use of the eccentrically-disposed disc and plate il and il, but also by resort to the expedient shown in Figure 4. 1n Figures 4 and 5 there is shown a grinding disc having an octagonal groove therein which is of a width just about equal to tbe width of the blocker balls when the unground lenses are rst placed in them. c Figures 'The grinding disc oi l and 5 is designated by reference numeral 26 and the octagenal groove by reference numeral 2i. The, grinding plate 2O is moui'ited in use in the same way as the grinding plate Ii and it is used with a driving disc having a sponge rubber pad on it identical to the construction shown in ure 2 except that the driving plate is concentric to the center of the groove in the grinding disc rather than eccentric as in the case of the relation between the disc i l and the drivingplate il. Due to the fact that the groove 2l is octagonal, the` blockers have a tendency to change the arts of rotation at each corner of the groove. The arrows in Figure l demonstrate about what nappens and another attempt has been made to show it on the left side oi Figure 4 where the heavy line indicates a line normal to the axis of roll.

The construction of 'Figures 4 and 5 is especially suitable to use during' the coarse initial grinding' oi' the lenses although the apparatus oi' Figures l, 2 and 3 is suitable i'or both the coarse and fine grinding' operations. The grindi j; times and grinding compounds mentioned ior the iirst grinding period in the foregoing specific example are equally applicable to thc use oi the Figures and 5 modification.

Whilc` the apparatus of Figures l to 3 differs from that of Figures 4 and 5 all three forms are characterized by tl e presence of a driving disc or plate and guiding means for the blocker balls such that the distance o the guiding means from the axis of rotation oi the driving disc or plate is different as measured in different radii. Specifically, when the guiding groove lor the balls is circular, it will be observed that the ccnter ot' the circular groove is offset relative to the axis of the driving plate. When the groovc; is octagonal as in Figure 4, it is apparent t at. the corners of the Octagon the radial distance from the axis of the driving disc is greater than it ilfmid-way between the corners.

What is claimed is:

65 l. Lens grinding apparatus comprising; driving disc, a plurality of blocker balls each liavii'ig suriace portions contoured to accommode. a plurality of symmetrically arranged lens ble means to guide a plurality of said blocker balls in contact with said disc, said guidingmeans extending for 350, means to rotate the driving disc, the radi-a1 distance o the guiding means troni the axis of the driving disc being dlilercnt as measured in dierent radii of the guiding means.

grinding with a grinding 2. Lens grinding apparatus comprising a, driving disc, a plurality of blocker balls each having surface portions contoured to accommodate a plurality of symmetrically arranged lens blanks, a grinding plate having a circular groove therein of a width in excess of the diameter of said blocker balls to be accommodated therein, means to rotate the driving disc in bearing engagement with balls in said groove, the center of said circular groove and the axis of said driving disc being mutually offset to cause the blocker balls to roll transversely of the groove in their arcuate movement thereabout.

3. Lens grinding apparatus comprising a driving disc, a grinding plate having a groove therein the form of a regular polygon to guide blocker balls in contact with said disc, means to rotate the driving disc, the center of the polygon and the axis of the driving disc being coincident.

4. Lens grinding apparatus comprising a driving disc having a lower surface of sponge rubber, means mounting said disc for rotation about a vertical axis and for free vertical movement, means to drive said driving dise about a vertical axis, a grinding disc disposed below said driving disc, a plurality of blocker balls each having surface portions contoured to accommodate a plurality of symmetrically arranged lens blanks, a groove in said grinding disc to guide said plurality of blocker balls in contact with the sponge rubber surface of said driving disc, the radial distance of the guiding means from the axis of the driving disc being; different as measured in different radii of the guiding means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the weight of the driving disc controls the pressure at which the sponge rubber bears against the blocker balls.

6. Lens grinding apparatus comprising a driving disc having a lower surface of sponge rubber', means mounting said disc for free vertical movement along' a vertical axis, means to drive said driving disc about said vertical axis, a grinding plate disposed below said driving disc in a horizontal plane, said grinding plate having a circular groove therein to accommodate blocker balls, .the center of said circular groove being offset-with respect to the axis of rotation of said driving disc.

7. Lens grinding apparatus comprising a driving disc having a lower surface of sponge rubber. means mounting said disc for free vertical move ment along a vertical axis, means to drive said riving disc about said vertical axis, a grinding plate disposed below said driving disc, said grinding plate having a circular groove therein to accommodate blocker balls, means mounting said grinding disc for rotation about a vertical axis coincident with the center of the circular groove and oi'lset with respect to the axis of rotation of the driving disc and means to drive the grinding disc at a rate oi speed diilerent from that of the driving disc.

References cieca in the sie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

